A Huay Yai police officer has denied claims that he used Thana Koetthong, known as Pong, as an informant, saying he had instead arrested the 43-year-old twice and later had him listed for monitoring after his release from prison. The officer spoke to a reporter, on 5 August as police examine data from Pong's mobile phone. Pong is one of the suspects in a murder case involving the concealment of five bodies, while allegations have circulated that he had acted as a police source. A former Huay Yai police officer, identified in media reports only as"Sor", has also been mentioned in connection with the claims and remains subject to fact-finding inquiries. Two earlier arrests The officer said he had no personal relationship with Pong and had never assigned him work. He said he was among the officers who had arrested Pong in two cases since being transferred to Huay Yai police station in 2013. The first incident was in mid-2018, after Pattaya City Police asked Huay Yai officers to help a woman reportedly being held at a house in the Soi Noen Sai area of Huay Yai. Officers initially found no victim during a search. As they were leaving, they heard an unusual sound, returned to search again and found a woman hiding beneath a bed, with a towel over her face and facial swelling consistent with an assault, the officer said. Pong was detained, but the woman did not wish to pursue the matter the following day, saying the pair were lovers. Pong was subsequently released. In October 2018, Pong was wanted over an attempted murder and firearms case. Investigators traced him and asked his father to help persuade him to surrender. On 13 October 2018, Nong Prue patrol officers arrested him at accommodation in Pong district after residents reported trouble. They found that the Pattaya Provincial Court had issued an arrest warrant in connection with attempted murder and firearms offences, then handed him to Huay Yai police. Monitoring after prison release During questioning, Pong allegedly said he had thrown a .38 revolver into the sea behind Wat Ban Amphur. Officers, divers and search equipment were sent to the area but did not find the weapon. The officer said Pong later refused to reveal any further information about the gun and was prosecuted and sent to prison towards the end of 2018. Around eight years later, in mid-June 2026, Pong called the officer, introduced himself and said he had retained a telephone number left with his father years earlier. The officer said he immediately informed investigators, who listed Pong as a person to watch because they considered him dangerous and feared he could reoffend. The officer also addressed reports of a photograph showing Pong putting an arm around his waist. He said the meeting occurred during police work after Pong had called to say he had seen officers near a motorcycle repair garage. The officer said he called back to ask whether Pong had seen a wanted suspect, then arranged to speak at a nearby restaurant. Pong hugged him on arrival, they spoke briefly and then left separately. He said another call to Pong was made on investigators' orders when Pong was suspected in the abduction case involving two Russian siblings. The call did not connect because Pong's phone was switched off. The officer said he had reported all details to his superiors and reiterated that he had never used Pong as an informant or shared any interests with him. He said he was also a witness in Pong's cases. Picture courtesy of Matichon Related stories Police-chief-probes-alleged-links-to-Chonburi-killer Pattaya-suspects-2018-shooting-history-revisited Russian-siblings-bodies-recovered-in-Chonburi-forest Join the discussion? 6 August 2026
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